News Analysis India

Tag: ISRO

  • GSLV-F12 carrying navigation satellite NVS-01 lifts-off from Sriharikota

    By PTI

    SRIHARIKOTA: ISRO’s GSLV rocket carrying navigation satellite NVS-01 lifted off from this spaceport on Monday.

    ISRO aims to augment the continuity of Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) services with the launch of the satellite.

    The 51.7 metre-tall rocket lifted off majestically from the second launch pad at this spaceport here, located about 130 km from Chennai. Amid clear skies, it took off at a prefixed time of 10.42 am.

    The second-generation navigation satellite series is considered a significant launch that would ensure the continuity of NavIC services — an Indian regional satellite navigation system, similar to GPS, providing accurate and real-time navigation in the country and a region extending to 1,500 km around the mainland.

    The signals from NavIC are designed to provide user position accuracy to better than 20 metres and timing accuracy to better than 50 nanoseconds, ISRO said.

    Nearly 20 minutes after lift-off, the rocket is scheduled to place the 2,232 kg satellite in a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) at an altitude of about 251 km.

    NVS-01 carries navigation payloads L1,L5 and S bands. The second-generation satellite would also carry an indigenously developed rubidium atomic clock. Earlier scientists at ISRO had used an imported atomic clock.

    ISRO developed the NavIC system to meet the positioning, navigation and timing requirements of the country, particularly with regard to civil aviation and military requirements.

    NavIC was earlier known as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) and is designed with a constellation of seven satellites and a network of ground stations that operate 24×7.

    It offers two services — Standard Position Service (SPS) for civilian users and Restricted Service for strategic users.

    NavIC SPS signals are interoperable with the US global navigation satellite system signals, GPS, Glonass from Russia, Galileo (European Union) and BeiDou, China.

    Monday’s mission is the sixth operational flight of the GSLV with an indigenous cryogenic stage. The mission life of NVS-01 is expected to be better than 12 years, ISRO said.

    SRIHARIKOTA: ISRO’s GSLV rocket carrying navigation satellite NVS-01 lifted off from this spaceport on Monday.

    ISRO aims to augment the continuity of Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) services with the launch of the satellite.

    The 51.7 metre-tall rocket lifted off majestically from the second launch pad at this spaceport here, located about 130 km from Chennai. Amid clear skies, it took off at a prefixed time of 10.42 am.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The second-generation navigation satellite series is considered a significant launch that would ensure the continuity of NavIC services — an Indian regional satellite navigation system, similar to GPS, providing accurate and real-time navigation in the country and a region extending to 1,500 km around the mainland.

    The signals from NavIC are designed to provide user position accuracy to better than 20 metres and timing accuracy to better than 50 nanoseconds, ISRO said.

    Nearly 20 minutes after lift-off, the rocket is scheduled to place the 2,232 kg satellite in a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) at an altitude of about 251 km.

    NVS-01 carries navigation payloads L1,L5 and S bands. The second-generation satellite would also carry an indigenously developed rubidium atomic clock. Earlier scientists at ISRO had used an imported atomic clock.

    ISRO developed the NavIC system to meet the positioning, navigation and timing requirements of the country, particularly with regard to civil aviation and military requirements.

    NavIC was earlier known as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) and is designed with a constellation of seven satellites and a network of ground stations that operate 24×7.

    It offers two services — Standard Position Service (SPS) for civilian users and Restricted Service for strategic users.

    NavIC SPS signals are interoperable with the US global navigation satellite system signals, GPS, Glonass from Russia, Galileo (European Union) and BeiDou, China.

    Monday’s mission is the sixth operational flight of the GSLV with an indigenous cryogenic stage. The mission life of NVS-01 is expected to be better than 12 years, ISRO said.

  • Mission Gaganyan: Indian Navy, ISRO release Recovery Training Plan

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Moving a step closer towards India’s foray into space, the Indian Navy and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released the Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan at Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) INS Garuda, Kochi recently.

    The Indian Navy on Friday said, “The document outlines the training plan for recovery of the Crew Module of the mission. It defines overall requirements wrt training of various teams participating in recovery operations incl Divers, MARCOs, Medical Specialists, Communicators, Technicians & Naval Aviators.”

    The training document was jointly released by VAdm Atul Anand, Director General of Naval Operations, Dr Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, (VSSC) and Dr Umamaheshwaran R, Director, Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISRO

    The Recovery training is planned in incremental phases starting from unmanned recovery to manned recovery training in the harbour and open sea conditions. The recovery operations are being led by the Indian Navy in coordination with other Government agencies.

    The Crew Module Recovery Model was also formally handed over to the Indian Navy at its state-of-the-art Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) at INS Garuda, Kochi. The mass and shape simulated mockup will be used for familiarisation and training of Gaganyaan recovery teams.

    The Indian Navy will also assist ISRO by undertaking a series of trials to fine-tune the Standard Operating Procedures for training the crew and recovery teams of Gaganyaan.

    The Gaganyaan Programme envisages undertaking the demonstration of human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in the short term and will lay the foundation for a sustained Indian human space exploration programme in the long run. The objective of the Gaganyaan programme is to demonstrate the indigenous capability to undertake human space flight missions to LEO.

    As part of this programme, two unmanned missions and one manned mission are approved by the Government of India (GoI).

    The uncrewed ‘G1’ mission is targeted to be launched in the last quarter of 2023 followed by the second uncrewed ‘G2’ mission in the second quarter of 2024, before the final human space flight ‘H1’ mission in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    The astronauts designated for human space flight missions are currently undergoing mission-specific training in Bengaluru. The first semester of Astronaut training has been completed wherein they have undergone course modules on Theoretical basics, Space medicine, Launch vehicles, spacecraft system and ground support infrastructure.

    Regular physical fitness sessions, aeromedical training and flying practice are also part of crew training. Corresponding evaluation and assessment activities have also been completed. The second semester of crew training is currently in progress.

    NEW DELHI: Moving a step closer towards India’s foray into space, the Indian Navy and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) released the Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan at Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) INS Garuda, Kochi recently.

    The Indian Navy on Friday said, “The document outlines the training plan for recovery of the Crew Module of the mission. It defines overall requirements wrt training of various teams participating in recovery operations incl Divers, MARCOs, Medical Specialists, Communicators, Technicians & Naval Aviators.”

    The training document was jointly released by VAdm Atul Anand, Director General of Naval Operations, Dr Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, (VSSC) and Dr Umamaheshwaran R, Director, Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) of ISROgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Recovery training is planned in incremental phases starting from unmanned recovery to manned recovery training in the harbour and open sea conditions. The recovery operations are being led by the Indian Navy in coordination with other Government agencies.

    The Crew Module Recovery Model was also formally handed over to the Indian Navy at its state-of-the-art Water Survival Training Facility (WSTF) at INS Garuda, Kochi. The mass and shape simulated mockup will be used for familiarisation and training of Gaganyaan recovery teams.

    The Indian Navy will also assist ISRO by undertaking a series of trials to fine-tune the Standard Operating Procedures for training the crew and recovery teams of Gaganyaan.

    The Gaganyaan Programme envisages undertaking the demonstration of human spaceflight to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in the short term and will lay the foundation for a sustained Indian human space exploration programme in the long run. The objective of the Gaganyaan programme is to demonstrate the indigenous capability to undertake human space flight missions to LEO.

    As part of this programme, two unmanned missions and one manned mission are approved by the Government of India (GoI).

    The uncrewed ‘G1’ mission is targeted to be launched in the last quarter of 2023 followed by the second uncrewed ‘G2’ mission in the second quarter of 2024, before the final human space flight ‘H1’ mission in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    The astronauts designated for human space flight missions are currently undergoing mission-specific training in Bengaluru. The first semester of Astronaut training has been completed wherein they have undergone course modules on Theoretical basics, Space medicine, Launch vehicles, spacecraft system and ground support infrastructure.

    Regular physical fitness sessions, aeromedical training and flying practice are also part of crew training. Corresponding evaluation and assessment activities have also been completed. The second semester of crew training is currently in progress.

  • Discussing possible mission to moon with Japanese agency: ISRO chairman S Somanath 

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Indian Space Research Organisation chairman S Somanath on Wednesday said ISRO has successfully done significant collaborations on its space missions and is also discussing a possible mission to the moon with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

    Somanath also said there is a good opportunity to launch a mission to explore planet Venus by 2028.

    He was delivering the inaugural talk on “Indian Capabilities for Space and Planetary Exploration” at the 4th Indian Planetary Science Conference organised at Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) here.

    The ISRO chief said it was important to have a connection between scientific institutions across the world and ISRO in building complex missions.

    He cited the example of the TRISHNA mission, designed to observe the earth’s surface in the thermal infrared domain, which has been developed by ISRO and its French counterpart CNES.

    “We are also discussing a possible mission to the moon with JASA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) where the land rover will be built by them and they will launch it using a Japanese rocket,” said Somanath, who is also Secretary of the Department of Space.

    He said ISRO will look at possible engagement with other agencies in exploratory missions.

    “It is very important that it will happen only when they have confidence in you and our instruments and measurement systems are complementary to their goals,” he said.

    “ISRO has been successful in doing significant collaborations on its space missions, and it is important to have a connection between scientific institutions across the world and ISRO in building complex missions of this nature,” Somanath said.

    Talking about the ambitious “Gaganyaan” project — which envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely to earth — the ISRO chairman said it was going on very well.

    This project gives a lot of opportunities to conduct experiments on board, with possibilities like micro-gravity, space mining, material testing, and space-based observations.

    “We need to work on this and come up with scientific goals through the Gaganyaan programme. Sending a man up there is one part, but doing something very meaningful is something we are all looking at,” he said.

    Somanath informed discussions are underway for ISRO’s proposed mission to Venus.

    “Venus is a very challenging planet to explore and there is a good opportunity to launch it by 2028,” he said, adding there is a lot of interest in the science community to make use of the capability in this mission.

    “I am very sure that we will take it up further,” he added.

    Somanath said ISRO will seek further approval for DISHA payloads and will look at the possibility of landing a mission to Mars a few years from now.

    AHMEDABAD: Indian Space Research Organisation chairman S Somanath on Wednesday said ISRO has successfully done significant collaborations on its space missions and is also discussing a possible mission to the moon with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.

    Somanath also said there is a good opportunity to launch a mission to explore planet Venus by 2028.

    He was delivering the inaugural talk on “Indian Capabilities for Space and Planetary Exploration” at the 4th Indian Planetary Science Conference organised at Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) here.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The ISRO chief said it was important to have a connection between scientific institutions across the world and ISRO in building complex missions.

    He cited the example of the TRISHNA mission, designed to observe the earth’s surface in the thermal infrared domain, which has been developed by ISRO and its French counterpart CNES.

    “We are also discussing a possible mission to the moon with JASA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) where the land rover will be built by them and they will launch it using a Japanese rocket,” said Somanath, who is also Secretary of the Department of Space.

    He said ISRO will look at possible engagement with other agencies in exploratory missions.

    “It is very important that it will happen only when they have confidence in you and our instruments and measurement systems are complementary to their goals,” he said.

    “ISRO has been successful in doing significant collaborations on its space missions, and it is important to have a connection between scientific institutions across the world and ISRO in building complex missions of this nature,” Somanath said.

    Talking about the ambitious “Gaganyaan” project — which envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three to an orbit of 400 km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely to earth — the ISRO chairman said it was going on very well.

    This project gives a lot of opportunities to conduct experiments on board, with possibilities like micro-gravity, space mining, material testing, and space-based observations.

    “We need to work on this and come up with scientific goals through the Gaganyaan programme. Sending a man up there is one part, but doing something very meaningful is something we are all looking at,” he said.

    Somanath informed discussions are underway for ISRO’s proposed mission to Venus.

    “Venus is a very challenging planet to explore and there is a good opportunity to launch it by 2028,” he said, adding there is a lot of interest in the science community to make use of the capability in this mission.

    “I am very sure that we will take it up further,” he added.

    Somanath said ISRO will seek further approval for DISHA payloads and will look at the possibility of landing a mission to Mars a few years from now.

  • Joshimath: At the behest of state cabinet minister, ISRO removes satellite images and report

    Express News Service

    JOSHIMATH: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has removed the satellite images of the land submergence and the report claiming that Joshimath was submerged within a day, following objections from the state government. Speaking to The New Indian Express, state Cabinet Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, who is camping in Joshimath to monitor and assess the situation, confirmed this after contacting ISRO officials.

    Meanwhile, the Centre has issued strict instructions prohibiting scientists, geologists and other concerned officials from sharing any kind of Joshimath land submergence report with the media.

    In fact, this report of ISRO said that in the last 12 days i.e. from 27 December2022 to 8 January 2023, there was a 5.4 cm landslide in Joshimath. ISRO had also said that in the last seven months, the landslide in Joshimath was 9 cm.

    Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat said, “There was panic among the people of Joshimath city after ISRO pictures related to the submergence of Joshimath went viral and news related to it was broadcast on TV channels, when this happened, they spoke to the ISRO director over phone” “I requested him to either issue an official statement regarding the photographs or remove the photographs from the website if there is nothing like that”, added Minister Dr Dhan Singh.

    WATCH |

    Secretary Disaster Management Dr. Ranjit Kumar Sinha, while giving information about the relief and rescue related works being done to the media on Saturday, said “An amount of Rs 187.50 lakh has been distributed by the state government as advance for displacement per family. It has been proposed by CBRI,Government of India to design and construct pre-fab huts for the affected people on their other protected land”.

    The disaster management team will again visit Joshimath on Sunday, during which Additional Secretary (Disaster), Geologist and Central officials will also be present.

    JOSHIMATH: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has removed the satellite images of the land submergence and the report claiming that Joshimath was submerged within a day, following objections from the state government. Speaking to The New Indian Express, state Cabinet Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, who is camping in Joshimath to monitor and assess the situation, confirmed this after contacting ISRO officials.

    Meanwhile, the Centre has issued strict instructions prohibiting scientists, geologists and other concerned officials from sharing any kind of Joshimath land submergence report with the media.

    In fact, this report of ISRO said that in the last 12 days i.e. from 27 December2022 to 8 January 2023, there was a 5.4 cm landslide in Joshimath. ISRO had also said that in the last seven months, the landslide in Joshimath was 9 cm.

    Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat said, “There was panic among the people of Joshimath city after ISRO pictures related to the submergence of Joshimath went viral and news related to it was broadcast on TV channels, when this happened, they spoke to the ISRO director over phone” “I requested him to either issue an official statement regarding the photographs or remove the photographs from the website if there is nothing like that”, added Minister Dr Dhan Singh.

    WATCH |

    Secretary Disaster Management Dr. Ranjit Kumar Sinha, while giving information about the relief and rescue related works being done to the media on Saturday, said “An amount of Rs 187.50 lakh has been distributed by the state government as advance for displacement per family. It has been proposed by CBRI,
    Government of India to design and construct pre-fab huts for the affected people on their other protected land”.

    The disaster management team will again visit Joshimath on Sunday, during which Additional Secretary (Disaster), Geologist and Central officials will also be present.

  • Satellite images show Joshimath sank by 5.4 cm in 12 days; ISRO warns entire town may sink

    By Online Desk

    JOSHIMATH: Uttarakhand’s Joshimath town sank by 5.4 cm in just 12 days between December 27, 2022, and January 8, 2023, triggered by a possible subsidence event on January 2, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellite-based report. This is a case of rapid subsistence, it said adding that the area of the subsidence too has increased. However, it is confined to the central part of Joshimath town.

    ISRO’s preliminary report released Thursday shows that the entire town may sink.

    Joshimath is the gateway to famous pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib and the international skiing destination Auli.

    Meanwhile, slow land subsidence up to 9 cm was recorded in Joshimath town over a period of seven months, between April and November 2022.

    The Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Centre has released satellite images of areas that are sinking. The pictures are taken from the Cartosat-2S satellite.

    WEB SCRAWL | How green was my valley: The Himalayan loot that triggered the Joshimath disaster

    In the images, the entire town, including the Army’s helipad and the Narasimha temple, has been marked as a sensitive zone. 

    Due to a landslide-related creep, cracks have appeared in around 700 houses in the town. Roads along with the hotels and hospitals present there have developed cracks, said NRSC.

    A subsidence zone resembling a generic landslide shape was identified (tapered top and fanning out at base), ISRO said in its report. The ‘Crown’ of the subsidence is located near Joshimath-Auli road at a height of 2,180 metres, it said. 

    The satellite images show that the Joshimath-Auli road is also going to collapse.

    Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is holding an emergency meeting Friday to discuss several important issues, including compensation, in view of the land subsidence crisis in Joshimath.

    Ministers, and top officials including Chief Secretary Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu were present in the meeting, which began at 12 noon in the Secretariat here.

    OPINION | Joshimath disaster a result of deliberate negligence

    Dhami had emphasised that surveys of other areas should also be conducted in the state by a committee of experts. The committee would survey the villages and towns located in the hilly areas to ascertain whether the area has more buildings and people than capacity.

    A total of 169 families consisting of 589 members have so far been shifted to relief centres. There are 835 rooms serving as relief centres in Joshimath and Pipalkoti which can together accommodate 3,630 people.

    An interim assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh has been paid so far to 42 affected families. CM Dhami on Thursday had said a committee would decide the market rate for compensation to be paid to the families affected in Joshimath by keeping in mind the interests of stakeholders.

    (With inputs from PTI, ANI, IANS)

    JOSHIMATH: Uttarakhand’s Joshimath town sank by 5.4 cm in just 12 days between December 27, 2022, and January 8, 2023, triggered by a possible subsidence event on January 2, according to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellite-based report. This is a case of rapid subsistence, it said adding that the area of the subsidence too has increased. However, it is confined to the central part of Joshimath town.

    ISRO’s preliminary report released Thursday shows that the entire town may sink.

    Joshimath is the gateway to famous pilgrimage sites like Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib and the international skiing destination Auli.

    Meanwhile, slow land subsidence up to 9 cm was recorded in Joshimath town over a period of seven months, between April and November 2022.

    The Hyderabad-based National Remote Sensing Centre has released satellite images of areas that are sinking. The pictures are taken from the Cartosat-2S satellite.

    WEB SCRAWL | How green was my valley: The Himalayan loot that triggered the Joshimath disaster

    In the images, the entire town, including the Army’s helipad and the Narasimha temple, has been marked as a sensitive zone. 

    Due to a landslide-related creep, cracks have appeared in around 700 houses in the town. Roads along with the hotels and hospitals present there have developed cracks, said NRSC.

    A subsidence zone resembling a generic landslide shape was identified (tapered top and fanning out at base), ISRO said in its report. The ‘Crown’ of the subsidence is located near Joshimath-Auli road at a height of 2,180 metres, it said. 

    The satellite images show that the Joshimath-Auli road is also going to collapse.

    Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is holding an emergency meeting Friday to discuss several important issues, including compensation, in view of the land subsidence crisis in Joshimath.

    Ministers, and top officials including Chief Secretary Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu were present in the meeting, which began at 12 noon in the Secretariat here.

    OPINION | Joshimath disaster a result of deliberate negligence

    Dhami had emphasised that surveys of other areas should also be conducted in the state by a committee of experts. The committee would survey the villages and towns located in the hilly areas to ascertain whether the area has more buildings and people than capacity.

    A total of 169 families consisting of 589 members have so far been shifted to relief centres. There are 835 rooms serving as relief centres in Joshimath and Pipalkoti which can together accommodate 3,630 people.

    An interim assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh has been paid so far to 42 affected families. CM Dhami on Thursday had said a committee would decide the market rate for compensation to be paid to the families affected in Joshimath by keeping in mind the interests of stakeholders.

    (With inputs from PTI, ANI, IANS)

  • ISRO espionage case: SC sets aside anticipatory bail of four former officers; asks HC to consider bail pleas afresh

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Kerala HC to consider afresh anticipatory bail pleas of former Gujarat DGP RB Sreekumar, two former police officers of Kerala, S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt, and a retired intelligence official P S Jayaprakash accused of hatching a conspiracy to frame former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayan and others in the ISRO espionage case.

    The retired Kerala Police officers S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt were part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which arrested the scientist.

    The bench led by Justice MR Shah while setting aside HC’s order asked it to reconsider their pleas within four weeks. It further granted interim protection from arrest to the accused for five weeks and till the HC decides their pleas subject to them cooperating in the investigation.

    Court’s order came in a plea filed by CBI challenging Kerala HC’s April 16 order granting them anticipatory bail. HC while granting them bail had observed that concerns of the Kerala police at that stage about the espionage case cannot be said to be without basis.

    “Some of the documents which have been produced for perusal indicate that there were certain suspicious circumstances pointing towards the act of the Scientists in the ISRO and that is what induced the officers to proceed against them”, Justice Ashok Menon had noted in the order.

    The High Court also remarked that there was “not even a scintilla of evidence” to suggest that the petitioners accused of implicating former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan in the espionage case were influenced by foreign elements.

    Challenging the bail, the probe agency had contended that the HC had granted anticipatory bail on the ground that the matter was old. ASG SV Raju had added that despite the offence which was committed 25 years ago, top court had directed for registration of FIR and it was not open for the HC to grant bail on this ground. On the other hand, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal for the then IB officer, argued accused was charged for “bailable offences”. He also added that there was no allegation against him in the FIR and there was no basis for the probe agency to take him into custody.

    Narayanan and six others were accused of selling secrets pertaining to ISRO’s cryogenic programme to women who were allegedly spying for Russia, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence and other countries. In 1994, he and two other businessmen were arrested on the charges of espionage.

    In September 2018, the Supreme Court had held that the prosecution initiated by Kerala Police in the 1990’s in relation to the ISRO Espionage Case was maliciously moved against the Scientist, causing him immense humiliation. As a result of this, the Kerala Government was directed to pay compensation of Rs. 50 lac to Narayanan. Further to this, a three-member committee was constituted to probe into the illegal arrest of Narayanan.

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Kerala HC to consider afresh anticipatory bail pleas of former Gujarat DGP RB Sreekumar, two former police officers of Kerala, S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt, and a retired intelligence official P S Jayaprakash accused of hatching a conspiracy to frame former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayan and others in the ISRO espionage case.

    The retired Kerala Police officers S Vijayan and Thampi S Durga Dutt were part of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which arrested the scientist.

    The bench led by Justice MR Shah while setting aside HC’s order asked it to reconsider their pleas within four weeks. It further granted interim protection from arrest to the accused for five weeks and till the HC decides their pleas subject to them cooperating in the investigation.

    Court’s order came in a plea filed by CBI challenging Kerala HC’s April 16 order granting them anticipatory bail. HC while granting them bail had observed that concerns of the Kerala police at that stage about the espionage case cannot be said to be without basis.

    “Some of the documents which have been produced for perusal indicate that there were certain suspicious circumstances pointing towards the act of the Scientists in the ISRO and that is what induced the officers to proceed against them”, Justice Ashok Menon had noted in the order.

    The High Court also remarked that there was “not even a scintilla of evidence” to suggest that the petitioners accused of implicating former ISRO scientist Nambi Narayanan in the espionage case were influenced by foreign elements.

    Challenging the bail, the probe agency had contended that the HC had granted anticipatory bail on the ground that the matter was old. ASG SV Raju had added that despite the offence which was committed 25 years ago, top court had directed for registration of FIR and it was not open for the HC to grant bail on this ground. On the other hand, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal for the then IB officer, argued accused was charged for “bailable offences”. He also added that there was no allegation against him in the FIR and there was no basis for the probe agency to take him into custody.

    Narayanan and six others were accused of selling secrets pertaining to ISRO’s cryogenic programme to women who were allegedly spying for Russia, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence and other countries. In 1994, he and two other businessmen were arrested on the charges of espionage.

    In September 2018, the Supreme Court had held that the prosecution initiated by Kerala Police in the 1990’s in relation to the ISRO Espionage Case was maliciously moved against the Scientist, causing him immense humiliation. As a result of this, the Kerala Government was directed to pay compensation of Rs. 50 lac to Narayanan. Further to this, a three-member committee was constituted to probe into the illegal arrest of Narayanan.

  • ISRO successfully launches Oceansat-3, eight other customer satellites on their way to different orbit 

    By Express News Service

    CHENNAI: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Saturday successfully launched Earth Observation Satellite, Oceansat-3, and eight other customer satellites in two different orbits in a single mission. 

    In its 56th flight, India’s workhorse PSLV lifted off from the first launchpad in Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 11.56 am. It was a near-perfect launch, although cloudy weather obstructed the view of the onlookers. 

    This mission is special in the sense the scientists will be conducting several manoeuvres to place the satellites in different orbits at different altitudes. It is also one of the longest missions undertaken by ISRO. The total mission duration is around 2 hours.

    The primary satellite EOS-06, which is the third-generation satellite in the Oceansat series, was placed in orbit-1 after 17 minutes from lift-off at an altitude of 742 km. Subsequently, orbit change was made by using two Orbit Change Thrusters (OCTs) introduced in the Propulsion Bay Ring of the PSLV-C54 Vehicle to place the passenger payloads (4 foreign and 4 domestic) in orbit-2, which is a much lower ordit. The last satellite will be lobbed at an altitude of 528 km. 

    PSLV-C54/EOS-06 Mission: EOS-06 spacecraft separation is successful. The spacecraft’s health is normal. The mission is continuing …
    — ISRO (@isro) November 26, 2022
    ISRO Chairman S Somanath said, “The primary satellite has been successfully placed and solar panels deployed. The mission is not yet completed. We are waiting for the change of orbit of the upper stage along with the eight remaining satellites. The upper stage has small engines which will lower the orbit from 742 km to 511 km, which again will be a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit.” SR Biju, Mission Director, said the first phase of the mission is completed. 

    Thenmozhi Selvi K, Project Director, EOS-06 Satellite, said: “The objective of the Oceansat-3 was to study the biological parameters of the ocean. This is having advanced payload specifications and application areas. It will be an operational class spacecraft with complete redundancy and has five years of mission life.”

    The Oceansat-3 has four important payloads, namely Ocean Color Monitor (OCM-3), Sea Surface Temperature Monitor (SSTM), Ku-Band Scatterometer (SCAT-3) and ARGOS.

    The ISRO said the previous satellite in the series, Oceanset-2, launched in September, 2009, was configured to cover global oceans and provide continuity of ocean colour data with global wind vector and characterisation of lower atmosphere and ionosphere. The mission resulted in many research collaborations nationally and internationally on various areas like chlorophyll distribution, ocean colour images and oil spillages.

    The latest satellite in the series, Oceansat-3, envisages observing ocean colour data, sea surface temperature and wind vector data to be used in oceanography, climatology and meteorological applications. 

    The satellite also supports value-added products like identifying potential fishing zones using chlorophyll and SST and wind speed and land-based applications, the ISRO said.

    CHENNAI: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Saturday successfully launched Earth Observation Satellite, Oceansat-3, and eight other customer satellites in two different orbits in a single mission. 

    In its 56th flight, India’s workhorse PSLV lifted off from the first launchpad in Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 11.56 am. It was a near-perfect launch, although cloudy weather obstructed the view of the onlookers. 

    This mission is special in the sense the scientists will be conducting several manoeuvres to place the satellites in different orbits at different altitudes. It is also one of the longest missions undertaken by ISRO. The total mission duration is around 2 hours.

    The primary satellite EOS-06, which is the third-generation satellite in the Oceansat series, was placed in orbit-1 after 17 minutes from lift-off at an altitude of 742 km. Subsequently, orbit change was made by using two Orbit Change Thrusters (OCTs) introduced in the Propulsion Bay Ring of the PSLV-C54 Vehicle to place the passenger payloads (4 foreign and 4 domestic) in orbit-2, which is a much lower ordit. The last satellite will be lobbed at an altitude of 528 km. 

    PSLV-C54/EOS-06 Mission: EOS-06 spacecraft separation is successful. The spacecraft’s health is normal. The mission is continuing …
    — ISRO (@isro) November 26, 2022
    ISRO Chairman S Somanath said, “The primary satellite has been successfully placed and solar panels deployed. The mission is not yet completed. We are waiting for the change of orbit of the upper stage along with the eight remaining satellites. The upper stage has small engines which will lower the orbit from 742 km to 511 km, which again will be a Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit.” SR Biju, Mission Director, said the first phase of the mission is completed. 

    Thenmozhi Selvi K, Project Director, EOS-06 Satellite, said: “The objective of the Oceansat-3 was to study the biological parameters of the ocean. This is having advanced payload specifications and application areas. It will be an operational class spacecraft with complete redundancy and has five years of mission life.”

    The Oceansat-3 has four important payloads, namely Ocean Color Monitor (OCM-3), Sea Surface Temperature Monitor (SSTM), Ku-Band Scatterometer (SCAT-3) and ARGOS.

    The ISRO said the previous satellite in the series, Oceanset-2, launched in September, 2009, was configured to cover global oceans and provide continuity of ocean colour data with global wind vector and characterisation of lower atmosphere and ionosphere. The mission resulted in many research collaborations nationally and internationally on various areas like chlorophyll distribution, ocean colour images and oil spillages.

    The latest satellite in the series, Oceansat-3, envisages observing ocean colour data, sea surface temperature and wind vector data to be used in oceanography, climatology and meteorological applications. 

    The satellite also supports value-added products like identifying potential fishing zones using chlorophyll and SST and wind speed and land-based applications, the ISRO said.

  • Vikram-S marks start of private venture in Indian space programme with maiden success

    By PTI

    SRIHARIKOTA: India on Friday successfully placed three satellites into an orbit on a rocket completely developed by a four year- old startup, marking the entry of the private sector into the country’s space activities, currently dominated by the state-run behemoth ISRO.

    Skyroot Aerospace-designed Vikram-S, named in a befitting tribute to the father of the country’s space programme Vikram Sarabhai, tasted success in its maiden mission.

    Skyroot Aerospace become the first privately held company in India after the space sector was opened for the private players by the Centre in 2020.

    “I am happy to announce the successful completion of Mission Prarambh, The Beginning, by Skyroot aerospace,” a smiling Pawan Goenka, Chairman of the country’s space regulator, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (INSPACe), said from ISRO’s Mission Control Center here.

    The rocket achieved an altitude of 89.5 km and a range of 121.2 km, “exactly what was planned by Skyroot Aerospace,” he said.

    It “worked as planned” and Skyroot Aerospace has demonstrated various capability of sub-systems that will go into the orbital launch vehicle, he added.

    The vehicle integrated into the launcher soared after lifting off at the prefixed 11.30 am from the sounding rocket complex at the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), here, about 115 km from Chennai.

    The Mission unveiled by ISRO Chairman S Somanath has three payloads with two belonging to domestic customers and one from a foreign client.

    The 6-metre tall launch vehicle is one of the world’s first few all-composite rockets that has 3-D printed solid thrusters for spin stability of the launch vehicle.

    “This is a new beginning for the Indian private sector entering aerospace and a historic moment for all of us,” Goenka said.

    The three payloads riding piggyback on the rocket are from Chennai-based start-up SpaceKidz, Andhra Pradesh-based N-SpaceTech and Armenian BazoomQ Space Research Lab.

    Vikram-S launched the payloads in about 500 km low inclination orbit.

    The rocket later safely splashed into the sea, as part of the mission.

    Pawan Chandana, Skyroot Aerospace co-founder said all the required mission objectives were completed.

    “This Prarambh mission as the name signifies is the beginning of a new era in the Indian space ecosystem. Team Skyroot dedicates this successful mission to Dr Vikram Sarabhai, who boldly started the Indian space programme in the 1960s, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for unlocking the space sector to private players,” Chandana, also the Mission Director for Friday’s launch, said.

    “This Prarambh mission symbolises not only India’s first private rocket launch, it also symbolises the potential of new India,” he added.

    Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who witnessed the launch today accompanied, congratulated the nation and said it it is indeed a new beginning and a new dawn.

    “Shall I say very appropriately new Prarambh in the journey of India’s space programme and many thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has made this possible by opening space sector to private participation,” Singh, who holds the Department of Space portfolio among others, said.

    Earlier, in a departure from the routine, Friday’s mission was launched from the complex where sounding rockets were used by ISRO.

    SDSC has two launch complexes, each capable of providing complete support for vehicle assembly, check out and launch operations for any kind of missions — Low Earth Orbit, Geosynchronous transfer orbit.

    PSLVs and GSLVs are launched from here.

    Friday’s mission is considered to be a significant milestone for Skyroot Aerospace as it would help test and validate majority of the technologies in the Vikram series of orbital class space launch vehicles, including many sub-systems and technologies that would be tested before lift-off and post lift off phases of the launch.

    ‘Fun-Sat’, a 2.5 kg payload belonging to Chennai-based aerospace startup Spacekidz, has been developed by students from India, the United States, Singapore and Indonesia.

    The 545 kg Vikram launch vehicle consists of the Vikram II and Vikram III series.

    The technology architecture of the launch vehicle offers unique capabilities like multi-orbit insertion and interplanetary missions, while providing customised, dedicated and ride share options covering a wide spectrum of small satellite customer needs, Skyroot Aerospace said.

    The company added the rockets can be assembled and launched within 24 hours from any launch site.

    SRIHARIKOTA: India on Friday successfully placed three satellites into an orbit on a rocket completely developed by a four year- old startup, marking the entry of the private sector into the country’s space activities, currently dominated by the state-run behemoth ISRO.

    Skyroot Aerospace-designed Vikram-S, named in a befitting tribute to the father of the country’s space programme Vikram Sarabhai, tasted success in its maiden mission.

    Skyroot Aerospace become the first privately held company in India after the space sector was opened for the private players by the Centre in 2020.

    “I am happy to announce the successful completion of Mission Prarambh, The Beginning, by Skyroot aerospace,” a smiling Pawan Goenka, Chairman of the country’s space regulator, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (INSPACe), said from ISRO’s Mission Control Center here.

    The rocket achieved an altitude of 89.5 km and a range of 121.2 km, “exactly what was planned by Skyroot Aerospace,” he said.

    It “worked as planned” and Skyroot Aerospace has demonstrated various capability of sub-systems that will go into the orbital launch vehicle, he added.

    The vehicle integrated into the launcher soared after lifting off at the prefixed 11.30 am from the sounding rocket complex at the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), here, about 115 km from Chennai.

    The Mission unveiled by ISRO Chairman S Somanath has three payloads with two belonging to domestic customers and one from a foreign client.

    The 6-metre tall launch vehicle is one of the world’s first few all-composite rockets that has 3-D printed solid thrusters for spin stability of the launch vehicle.

    “This is a new beginning for the Indian private sector entering aerospace and a historic moment for all of us,” Goenka said.

    The three payloads riding piggyback on the rocket are from Chennai-based start-up SpaceKidz, Andhra Pradesh-based N-SpaceTech and Armenian BazoomQ Space Research Lab.

    Vikram-S launched the payloads in about 500 km low inclination orbit.

    The rocket later safely splashed into the sea, as part of the mission.

    Pawan Chandana, Skyroot Aerospace co-founder said all the required mission objectives were completed.

    “This Prarambh mission as the name signifies is the beginning of a new era in the Indian space ecosystem. Team Skyroot dedicates this successful mission to Dr Vikram Sarabhai, who boldly started the Indian space programme in the 1960s, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for unlocking the space sector to private players,” Chandana, also the Mission Director for Friday’s launch, said.

    “This Prarambh mission symbolises not only India’s first private rocket launch, it also symbolises the potential of new India,” he added.

    Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who witnessed the launch today accompanied, congratulated the nation and said it it is indeed a new beginning and a new dawn.

    “Shall I say very appropriately new Prarambh in the journey of India’s space programme and many thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has made this possible by opening space sector to private participation,” Singh, who holds the Department of Space portfolio among others, said.

    Earlier, in a departure from the routine, Friday’s mission was launched from the complex where sounding rockets were used by ISRO.

    SDSC has two launch complexes, each capable of providing complete support for vehicle assembly, check out and launch operations for any kind of missions — Low Earth Orbit, Geosynchronous transfer orbit.

    PSLVs and GSLVs are launched from here.

    Friday’s mission is considered to be a significant milestone for Skyroot Aerospace as it would help test and validate majority of the technologies in the Vikram series of orbital class space launch vehicles, including many sub-systems and technologies that would be tested before lift-off and post lift off phases of the launch.

    ‘Fun-Sat’, a 2.5 kg payload belonging to Chennai-based aerospace startup Spacekidz, has been developed by students from India, the United States, Singapore and Indonesia.

    The 545 kg Vikram launch vehicle consists of the Vikram II and Vikram III series.

    The technology architecture of the launch vehicle offers unique capabilities like multi-orbit insertion and interplanetary missions, while providing customised, dedicated and ride share options covering a wide spectrum of small satellite customer needs, Skyroot Aerospace said.

    The company added the rockets can be assembled and launched within 24 hours from any launch site.

  • Vikram-S set to be launched on Nov 18

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI: After inclement weather played spoilsport and put off the Tuesday’s launch of ‘Vikram-S’, India’s first private rocket developed by Hyderabad-based space startup Skyroot Aerospace, excitement is again growing with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) giving a fresh launch date on November 18 at 11.30 am. 

    Although IMD said a fresh low pressure area will be forming in southeast of Bay of Bengal, the launch is likely to go ahead this time. Skyroot co-founder Pawan Chandana, who is camping in Sriharikota for the last 10 days said, “Our new launch window given by ISRO is between November 15 to 19. The only likely date is November 18. Since our vehicle is light-weight rocket and aerodynamically driven, wind speed plays a role. As of now, winds are within the limit and ‘Mission Prarambh’ is good to go.”

    Some of the members of Skyroot team are stationed in Sriharikota for a month now, conducting critical checks and interfacing the rocket with ISRO’s communication network. Pawan said, “We got the technical clearance from the IN-SPACe committee, which independently checked our vehicle readiness for the launch last week. The vehicle is healthy and passed all the critical checks. Coming Friday will be a big day for us considering the fact that it is our maiden mission, which is sort of experimental flight that would validate all the flight modules that will be use for future orbital missions.”The Vikram-S rocket, a single-stage sub-orbital vehicle, will carry payloads of two Indian and one foreign customers.

    One of the satellite that will be flown is ‘Fun-Sat’ developed by Spacekidz, a Chennai-based aerospace startup weighing 2.5 kg. If Skyroot accomplishes the mission, it will create history becoming first private space company in India to launch a rocket into space. 

    CHENNAI: After inclement weather played spoilsport and put off the Tuesday’s launch of ‘Vikram-S’, India’s first private rocket developed by Hyderabad-based space startup Skyroot Aerospace, excitement is again growing with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) giving a fresh launch date on November 18 at 11.30 am. 

    Although IMD said a fresh low pressure area will be forming in southeast of Bay of Bengal, the launch is likely to go ahead this time. Skyroot co-founder Pawan Chandana, who is camping in Sriharikota for the last 10 days said, “Our new launch window given by ISRO is between November 15 to 19. The only likely date is November 18. Since our vehicle is light-weight rocket and aerodynamically driven, wind speed plays a role. As of now, winds are within the limit and ‘Mission Prarambh’ is good to go.”

    Some of the members of Skyroot team are stationed in Sriharikota for a month now, conducting critical checks and interfacing the rocket with ISRO’s communication network. Pawan said, “We got the technical clearance from the IN-SPACe committee, which independently checked our vehicle readiness for the launch last week. The vehicle is healthy and passed all the critical checks. Coming Friday will be a big day for us considering the fact that it is our maiden mission, which is sort of experimental flight that would validate all the flight modules that will be use for future orbital missions.”
    The Vikram-S rocket, a single-stage sub-orbital vehicle, will carry payloads of two Indian and one foreign customers.

    One of the satellite that will be flown is ‘Fun-Sat’ developed by Spacekidz, a Chennai-based aerospace startup weighing 2.5 kg. If Skyroot accomplishes the mission, it will create history becoming first private space company in India to launch a rocket into space. 

  • Launch of India’s 1st rocket ‘Vikram-S’ gets postponed to Nov 18

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI: After inclement weather played spoilsport and put off Tuesday’s launch of ‘Vikram-S’, India’s first private rocket developed by Hyderabad-based space startup Skyroot Aerospace, excitement is again growing with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) giving a fresh launch date on November 18 at 11.30 am. 

    Although IMD said a fresh low pressure area will be forming in southeast of Bay of Bengal, the launch is likely to go ahead this time. Skyroot co-founder Pawan Chandana, who is camping in Sriharikota for the last 10 days said, “Our new launch window given by ISRO is between November 15 to 19. The only likely date is November 18. Since our vehicle is light-weight rocket and aerodynamically driven, wind speed plays a role. As of now, winds are within the limit and ‘Mission Prarambh’ is good to go.”

    Some of the members of Skyroot team are stationed in Sriharikota for a month now, conducting critical checks and interfacing the rocket with ISRO’s communication network. Pawan said, “We got the technical clearance from the IN-SPACe committee, which independently checked our vehicle readiness for the launch last week. The vehicle is healthy and passed all the critical checks. Coming Friday will be a big day for us considering the fact that it is our maiden mission, which is sort of experimental flight that would validate all the flight modules that will be use for future orbital missions.”The Vikram-S rocket, a single-stage sub-orbital vehicle, will carry payloads of two Indian and one foreign customers.

    One of the satellite that will be flown is ‘Fun-Sat’ developed by Spacekidz, a Chennai-based aerospace startup weighing 2.5 kg. If Skyroot accomplishes the mission, it will create history becoming first private space company in India to launch a rocket into space. 

    CHENNAI: After inclement weather played spoilsport and put off Tuesday’s launch of ‘Vikram-S’, India’s first private rocket developed by Hyderabad-based space startup Skyroot Aerospace, excitement is again growing with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) giving a fresh launch date on November 18 at 11.30 am. 

    Although IMD said a fresh low pressure area will be forming in southeast of Bay of Bengal, the launch is likely to go ahead this time. Skyroot co-founder Pawan Chandana, who is camping in Sriharikota for the last 10 days said, “Our new launch window given by ISRO is between November 15 to 19. The only likely date is November 18. Since our vehicle is light-weight rocket and aerodynamically driven, wind speed plays a role. As of now, winds are within the limit and ‘Mission Prarambh’ is good to go.”

    Some of the members of Skyroot team are stationed in Sriharikota for a month now, conducting critical checks and interfacing the rocket with ISRO’s communication network. Pawan said, “We got the technical clearance from the IN-SPACe committee, which independently checked our vehicle readiness for the launch last week. The vehicle is healthy and passed all the critical checks. Coming Friday will be a big day for us considering the fact that it is our maiden mission, which is sort of experimental flight that would validate all the flight modules that will be use for future orbital missions.”
    The Vikram-S rocket, a single-stage sub-orbital vehicle, will carry payloads of two Indian and one foreign customers.

    One of the satellite that will be flown is ‘Fun-Sat’ developed by Spacekidz, a Chennai-based aerospace startup weighing 2.5 kg. If Skyroot accomplishes the mission, it will create history becoming first private space company in India to launch a rocket into space.